at Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Summary This position is in Region 5, Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division, Land Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Branch. About Region 5: Region 5 Website This is an office-centered position*—you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. *EPA offers work-from-home and work schedule flexibilities as described in the Benefits section. Responsibilities You will: Conduct inspections and investigations of regulated facilities for compliance with applicable regulations, permits, or other federal requirements. Provide technical advice and information on analytical methods, sampling techniques, etc., related to specific program areas, functions, or activities. Recommend enforcement actions based upon inspection findings and EPA enforcement policies. Provide regulatory compliance assistance to facilities during inspections, investigations, and compliance assistance visits, and at the request of facilities. Provide assistance to regional personnel, other federal, state, local, to tribal agencies, industry representatives, concerned public citizens on the technical aspects of EPA laws and regulations. When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level. You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position. Requirements Conditions of Employment Position has education requirements—see Qualifications/Education section. You must submit a resume and required documents—see How to Apply section. EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings. You must be a U.S. citizen. You will be required to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds or more. You may have limited exposure to hazardous materials. #LI-Onsite If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter. If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period. This position is designated as Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date. This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Participation in the medical monitoring program is required. You will be required to obtain (before coming on board) and maintain a valid driver’s license and must be able to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle. Qualifications NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to the educational requirements, we are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-09 level defined as conducting site inspections under a national environmental law; OR participating in enforcement activities and recommending enforcement actions based upon inspection findings. – OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the academic discipline as described below – OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. To qualify for the GS-12 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-11 level defined as experience conducting site inspections under a national environmental law; and experience writing inspection reports that identify specific violations of any of these environmental laws. Your application package will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: Skill in conducting field inspections, gathering evidence, and initiating enforcement actions Skill in written communication. Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and practices related to enforcement and compliance activities. Ability to provide technical assistance for field sampling and analytical services, facility inspections or audits, or monitoring support. Skill in oral communication. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. *If you have part-time work experience, read this: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Education 1315 – Hydrology Series: You must have a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The coursework must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included the described coursework. 1350 – Geology Series: You must have a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included the described coursework. For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Additional Information This position is in the bargaining unit. Are you a Displaced Federal Employee? If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website for additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of t
